REGION: Man sentenced to prison for fake loan-modification services

SAN DIEGO ---- A man who admitted using false and misleading
statements to entice struggling homeowners to buy loan-modification
services from his San Marcos company was ordered Monday to serve
five years, three months, in prison, federal prosecutors said.

Rosofsky admitted that in April 2009, he and Michael Trap ----
who previously pleaded guilty ---- began operating a
loan-modification business with the names "Nations Housing
Modification Center" and "Federal Housing Modification
Department."

Customers were told NHMC had attorneys and forensic accountants
on staff ---- there were none ---- and were told that the company
was located on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. ---- but its only
presence there was a post office box, according to prosecutors.

Prosecutors said about 300 homeowners paid between $2,500 and
$3,000 to NHMC between April and July 2009, resulting in over
$900,000 in customer money put into NHMC’s bank accounts. Rosofsky
admitted that he and Trap used the money to pay business expenses
and compensate themselves, prosecutors said.

In sentencing Rosofsky, U.S. District Judge Roger T. Benitez
ordered the defendant to pay more than $450,000 in restitution to
victims.